Silver moved to settle and unwind from the day's activities, with dinner still ahead. He let out a breath and closed his eyes, just gently nudging the tension away, or trying to. Another presence settled beside him, and delicate hooves began to work at his tense muscles. They protested at first, making him grunt, but soon began to relax under the gentle attentions and he sagged with contentment.
Cracking an eye open, he saw Bottom working quietly. Bottom noticed him looking and smiled. "Good afternoon, sir." Her voice, like the rest of her, was changed ever so subtly. She was already so emasculated before, the hop over was relatively mild, but that didn't make it sit quite right with Silver.
"Bottom... I know you... You want to be loved, right?"
Bottom smiled. "And I am, sir." She leaned in and nuzzled into his cheek softly. "I am yours, sir, forever."
Silver flipped his ears back. "You were... mine before, as a stallion, Bottom."
Bottom shook her head. "I am sorry to disagree, sir, but not forever, sir. You were going to get rid of me, sir." She pushed at Silver, rolling him over onto his back and working at his belly carefully. "You were waiting for me to get better, sir, and go away. Now I can be yours forever, sir, and be useful for you."
Silver shook his head, growing confused. "Do you disagree that you're not... entirely well?"
Bottom looked quizzical at the question, considering it even as her hooves continued their soft dance. "Not the... Not the way you think. I had to work hard to survive, but you are kind and generous and I feel better every day. All I want is a stallion to hold me tight and protect me, sir. That's all I ever wanted, sir."
Silver gave a slow nod, a knot of guilt refusing to die away in his chest. Was this what was best for Bottom? How could he convince Bottom to turn back, if that was the right thing to do? While he considered this, Bottom slipped over him, and pulled the curtain closed around the bed.
Silver snapped back into focus. "Huh?" Before he could muster a more intelligent question, Bottom had him, and tried to convince him in her own way how much she approved of the current situation.
Silver sank into the sheets afterwards, drained in all the good ways, with Bottom snuggling against him from above. "Bottom... I cared about you as a stallion, and I still care now."
Bottom nodded. "I know that. I know..." She put a hoof to her chest. "If you didn't care about me, I wouldn't love you, sir. But you love me more now. I want to be this close to you. I want to be closer!" She nuzzled and bit at his snout softly and peered into his eyes. "Please don't push me away. I'll do what you want, sir."
Silver felt there was nothing more to be done at that moment but to hug Bottom gently. "I... will accept you whichever way you are, Bottom. I'll let this drop for now, just know this, if you change your mind, you let me know. I won't hold it against you."
Bottom squeezed back warmly before slipping to her hooves. "I won't... But thank you, sir." She dipped her head, then pranced off. Silver shook his head a little, feeling smaller in comparison for how much he had whined and complained about his transition to a mare.
He slipped to his hooves and went to find the bath. Once he was in and soaking, Celestia approached and sat at the edge, looking at him. "You look like you could sink under the weight of your thoughts, Silver."
Silver perked an ear at Celestia. "I'm worried about Bottom. He, er, she... She seems really happy with herself, which is good? I think?"
Celestia reached out and poked him on the nose lightly. "What is done is done. She does seem happy. I'll watch her with you, and we'll try to do what's best. Now wash up and be ready. Dinner begins soon and we need to look, smell, act, and be our best. They may be our allies, but that does not decrease the need to make good impressions, on them and those around them. Would you like some help?"
Silver flushed lightly, agitated at the idea of needing help to bathe, but then he realized it would either be very slow, or leave him compromised if he used his magic. "Hrm, yes. That would be best."
Celestia got to work, scrubbing Silver down with a stiff-bristled brush and sparing no part of him from its cleansing presence, despite some squirming and squeaks from Silver.
With some light perfumes and ensuring his clothing was in good repair, they set out in a collective group, taking Shei, Bright and Bottom as servants, and Patty as a guest.
They arrived and were shown to seats near the end of the table at the large spread, though there was little true food present yet. Appetizers were arranged, from little rolls to selections of fruits and cheeses.
Silver picked at the appetizers out of idle hunger and nervousness, preferring to be doing something, even if just eating, rather than sitting there.
Wajdi and Jawa emerged together and took their places at the same end they were at, and the meal began in earnest. Large trays of food were brought out, showcasing just how much a vegetarian diet did not have to mean a restricted one. Patty made a noise of approval, rubbing her forehooves together before digging in without reservation, royalty present or not.
Jawa smiled at our group. "Princess Celestia, this is quite a change from your last visit, is it not?"
Celestia gestured at the group with a wing. "I must say I approve of traveling with friends and family instead of only guards and dignitaries. I trust they meet your approval?"
Jawa nodded. "Of course. I met your charming husband earlier, but do introduce me to the rest."
Patty wiped her hooves on a napkin as she looked at the Queen with a smile. "I'm Patty Windsong, your majesty. A pleasure to meet you. This is Shei Wingsong, my niece, and Silver Stars' servant."
Feeling the need to introduce himself since Patty did, Bottom shrank a little. "I-I'm Bottom, ma'am..." She glanced from one side of the table to the other. "I belong to Silver, ma'am."
Wajdi snorted with a smile. "Oh ho, are these two lovely mares part of your harem, young prince? Already trying to prove yourself to your elders?" His mood was positive and tone jesting. He clapped his forehooves with a clop clop and a door opened, admitting half-a-dozen of his own concubines, some of which Silver recognized from earlier. They sat down daintily across the table from Celestia and her guests. "I'm afraid I have you beat for tonight, but I understand, being so far away from home."
Jawa softly ribbed him. "You're making him uncomfortable. Be gentle on him, darling, he's not used to your roughhousing." She leveled her gaze at the group. "I hate to interrupt dinner with business, but we've delayed the discussion long enough, I feel."
Wajdi nodded and looked to Celestia. "Well, what say you, honored sun tender? Have you considered our proposal?"
Celestia gestured at Silver. "Silver could stand to hear the particulars. He must learn his place in things."
Wajdi chuckled softly. "You hear that, colt? Your motherwife's standing up for you. We were discussing it in part last night. The Anubian threat rises and falls like the tides, and currently, it rises. We want to expand trade to the Zebrican nation, but they're in the way, and any vessel or caravan we send is invariable waylaid. They must be taken care of, on a more permanent basis. The region's poised to move forward, and they are a relic of the past."
Bottom glanced about again, looking nervous and as if she wanted to say something, but her words did not emerge.
Celestia nodded slowly at Wajdi. "Have you explained to Silver what you mean when you use that label? I can see it passing over his head."
Wajdi rolled a hoof lightly. "You're denying a stallion his fun. A motherwife is a wife that nurtures and helps a husband to grow, like a mother. There are many types of wives, but none as fine as my own." He leaned over and kissed Jawa on the side of her snout, to her approval. "Now, Princess Celestia, what say you?"
Silver raised a hoof. "Sorry to interrupt, but what exactly are they raiding for?"
Jawa tilted her head head a little. "Presumably for wealth? Perhaps some primitive need for glory and dominance."
Silver shook his head. "I mean, do they prefer to target a kind of thing? Are they going after metal, or food, or... something? Do they make anything for themselves, or are they a completely dependant leech on everyone else?"
Wajdi burst into laughter. "See, I told you he had a clever head on those shoulders. Those are fine questions, but most who have gone to try and find out haven't had happy results."
Silver raised his hoof, ready to volunteer when Celestia's magic wrapped around it and lowered it to the table. He looked at her and caught a moment of stern disapproval, and he let it go.
Jawa gestured towards a window. "That isn't to say we have learned nothing. They do respect strength and cunning. Egalitarian, both males and females are gravitated towards those who can provide with brute force and cleverness, and they arrange themselves in loose 'tribes', following the biggest, smartest, of their lot. The chieftains then argue and fight among themselves, and eventually consensus is had. Once they come up with a plan, they seem to move almost as one, and their raids are very effective as a result."
Silver chewed softly at a gourd of some kind. It tasted buttery and wonderful, with spices he couldn't hope to identify that gave it a kick. "So we just have to convince the chieftains that there's a better way, and the rest will follow along after it."
Wajdi raised a brow. "A fine idea, but an idea it remains until it is actually done. They are xenophobic, so far as our scouts report. Attempts to approach peacefully usually end with the life of the brave soul attempting it."
"Silver can do it." Bottom shrank even as she said it, and all eyes turned turned towards her. "I-I... Sorry... Um... I just meant, I believe in him, sir, ma'am. If anyone can do it, he can."
Jawa smiled gently. "Your servant's faith in you is admirable." Her gaze shifted to Celestia. "We would not presume to give you this task without her permission."
Celestia let out a soft sigh. "Long have our people benefitted from our trade, and the kindred bond of fellow equines has kept our bonds secure, even through the lean years. We are both ponies, in the end, and I wish your people peace and prosperity."
Wajdi raised a brow. "Those are fine words, but no answer."
Celestia smiled gently. "We must see to a personal matter first. We will return, of this I swear." She held up a hoof. "Silver will be more useful to himself, and you, after we're done."
Jawa nodded at Wajdi. "I told you."
Wajdi waved a hoof at Celestia. "That was as close to a confession as she can get." With a soft huff he clopped his hooves. "Send in Oman!"